Calipari
- Thread starter rcatalano
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tom in salem
Well-known member
http://kentuckysportsradio.com/main/gary-parrish-just-told-the-most-john-calipari-story-ever/
Earlier today, Gary Parrish told an amazing story about John Calipari on his radio show on 92.9 FM in Memphis. A few of you alerted us to it, so I checked out the podcast, and wow, you weren’t lying. Parrish told a story about how Cal stole a recruit from another coach and when the coach started spreading rumors about him, Cal confronted him about it, telling him that because he’s Cal and it’s Kentucky, it’s going to happen, so deal with it.
Here’s the prologue in short: Parrish says there was a prominent coach within the last three years that had been recruiting a kid hard, attended over thirty of his games over two years, etc. Calipari came in after seeing the kid once the previous summer and watched him play one game. The recruit then committed to Kentucky. That’s not the craziest part. According to Parrish, the coach started spreading rumors about how Cal must have cheated to get the recruit, that he barely knew his name, etc. So, Cal confronted the coach in Vegas.
Parrish recounts the story, which he says he heard from five different sources:
“100% true, John confronts this guy in Vegas, because he heard the guy was yapping. He confronts him. Cal approaches the coach and says something like ‘Listen, I know what you’ve been saying’
‘No, I haven’t been saying–‘
‘I know you did, I know you said what you said. I’ve heard it from enough people, but I want you to understand one thing. Yes I am the type of guy who can come in at the last minute and take any player I want from you. You can spend your whole life recruiting a kid and at the end of the day, if I want him, I’ll get him. If we want him, we’ll get him. Don’t ever get that confused. Be appreciative every time I don’t come in and get your guy. Don’t accuse me of cheating when I do.
‘I didn’t say–‘
‘Yes you did say that. And it’s fine, but just understand, nothing stupid went on. It’s just that I’m me, and we’re Kentucky and we can come in and get that kid whenever we want.”
Any guesses on who the recruit was? Here’s the podcast if you want to listen and judge for yourself. The story about Cal starts around the 38-minute mark:
Earlier today, Gary Parrish told an amazing story about John Calipari on his radio show on 92.9 FM in Memphis. A few of you alerted us to it, so I checked out the podcast, and wow, you weren’t lying. Parrish told a story about how Cal stole a recruit from another coach and when the coach started spreading rumors about him, Cal confronted him about it, telling him that because he’s Cal and it’s Kentucky, it’s going to happen, so deal with it.
Here’s the prologue in short: Parrish says there was a prominent coach within the last three years that had been recruiting a kid hard, attended over thirty of his games over two years, etc. Calipari came in after seeing the kid once the previous summer and watched him play one game. The recruit then committed to Kentucky. That’s not the craziest part. According to Parrish, the coach started spreading rumors about how Cal must have cheated to get the recruit, that he barely knew his name, etc. So, Cal confronted the coach in Vegas.
Parrish recounts the story, which he says he heard from five different sources:
“100% true, John confronts this guy in Vegas, because he heard the guy was yapping. He confronts him. Cal approaches the coach and says something like ‘Listen, I know what you’ve been saying’
‘No, I haven’t been saying–‘
‘I know you did, I know you said what you said. I’ve heard it from enough people, but I want you to understand one thing. Yes I am the type of guy who can come in at the last minute and take any player I want from you. You can spend your whole life recruiting a kid and at the end of the day, if I want him, I’ll get him. If we want him, we’ll get him. Don’t ever get that confused. Be appreciative every time I don’t come in and get your guy. Don’t accuse me of cheating when I do.
‘I didn’t say–‘
‘Yes you did say that. And it’s fine, but just understand, nothing stupid went on. It’s just that I’m me, and we’re Kentucky and we can come in and get that kid whenever we want.”
Any guesses on who the recruit was? Here’s the podcast if you want to listen and judge for yourself. The story about Cal starts around the 38-minute mark:
Unfortunately what Cal says is all true. But most of his success is due to the fact he is coaching at Ky.
His head is getting so big maybe it is time for one of his coaching opponents to reveal some of his recruiting practices before he got to Ky.
His head is getting so big maybe it is time for one of his coaching opponents to reveal some of his recruiting practices before he got to Ky.
jumbo_peanuts
Active member
Like someone else said, he was successful before Kentucky, so its not like Kentucky all of a sudden made him a star.
And I really don't think that he is doing anything wrong when it comes to recruiting. If he did, he would have been exposed by now. With all the media attention they get, I just don't see him being able to get anything shady past anyone.
But when Cal says that if he wants a recruit, he will get a recruit, he is simply speaking the truth. Why spend years and years recruiting a kid when you can step in a few months before his announcement and still get him? He is very, very good at what he does, and that isn't going to change.
beast of the east
Active member
Not surprised at all by this story. Calipari has always been confident, cocky, and will find a way to get the kid he wants.
It reminds me of a story of a guy I worked for. Nationally regarded guy in my industry - but imo just a creep, He hired an employee from one of my clients, and in reference checking, the client supplied what all companies do today - start date, end date, that sort of thing. Turns out the person hired had a drug problem. The nationally known guy was irate, and called my client and screamed at them for not disclosing it. The client was surprised to say the least, and say "You hired one of MY guys without asking, and now you are complaining?"
Who cares if the coach knew the kid since he was 5 or saw him play a million times? The coach was after the same thing as Cal, wrapping himself around a player to woo him to the school. Only Cal is in a place where his success precedes him. He CAN get just about any kid he wants, and the only way to undo that is to build a better program.
The recruiting game is like that. Kids commit to the schools that give them the best chance to get to the next level. Kentucky is one of those places in almost every kid's mind, and playing in front of a national audience is just an enormous benefit with a slew of first round picks from Kentucky every year. In this Calipari was pissed because the coaching was talking garbage about him, and put the guy in his place. Nothing in the story is even mildly surprising. that's not to say that Calipari isn't slimy - he is, of course.
It reminds me of a story of a guy I worked for. Nationally regarded guy in my industry - but imo just a creep, He hired an employee from one of my clients, and in reference checking, the client supplied what all companies do today - start date, end date, that sort of thing. Turns out the person hired had a drug problem. The nationally known guy was irate, and called my client and screamed at them for not disclosing it. The client was surprised to say the least, and say "You hired one of MY guys without asking, and now you are complaining?"
Who cares if the coach knew the kid since he was 5 or saw him play a million times? The coach was after the same thing as Cal, wrapping himself around a player to woo him to the school. Only Cal is in a place where his success precedes him. He CAN get just about any kid he wants, and the only way to undo that is to build a better program.
The recruiting game is like that. Kids commit to the schools that give them the best chance to get to the next level. Kentucky is one of those places in almost every kid's mind, and playing in front of a national audience is just an enormous benefit with a slew of first round picks from Kentucky every year. In this Calipari was pissed because the coaching was talking garbage about him, and put the guy in his place. Nothing in the story is even mildly surprising. that's not to say that Calipari isn't slimy - he is, of course.
Cal has also shown throughout his coaching career the ability to have recruits who were considered by other coaches to have very little chance of becoming eligible to show tremendous improvement on the day they took the SAT.
Now the NCAA looks at this incredible improvement from one test to another as a possible violation but coaches like Cal will always be a step ahead.
Now the NCAA looks at this incredible improvement from one test to another as a possible violation but coaches like Cal will always be a step ahead.
jumbo_peanuts
Active member
Umm...I was talking about his time at Kentucky. I kind of thought that was self explanatory. If he were doing this at Kentucky, he would have been exposed by now.
